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September 2015

September 29, 2015

We are 1 month into registration for AU 2015 Las Vegas and we just passed 5,000 registered attendees! And that number is increasing by the minute. We thought it would be fun to take a peek at exactly who you’ll be rubbing shoulders with this year. So far we’ve got a healthy mix of newbies, old-timers, construction folks, manufacturers, gamers, AU super fans, and more.

Here’s a look at #AU2015 Las Vegas by the numbers:

Pro tip: If you’re in the 35% be sure to go to Freshman Orientation to get the inside scoop and a preview of what’s in store. Plus, you can meet and mingle with other first-timers.

How did you hear about AU?

Nearly 1,000 registered attendees heard about AU from a colleague.

Pro tip: Do your civic duty and spread the word about AU to your colleagues who aren’t going. Tell them to register by October 18 so they can save $300. Maybe they’ll use the extra cash to buy you a drink (or 2) in Vegas. If they can’t make it, let them know that they can watch the fun live on the AU website.

How many people registered for #AU2015 also attended last year?

37% of registered attendees had so much fun—and learned so much—last year, they’re coming back to do it all over again this year.

Pro tip: Evening events aren’t the only time to make connections. We offer a long lunch each day to give you plenty of time for networking as well as noshing. Take advantage, and take down contact info so you can stay connected to your new circle of peers all year round.

How many people registered for #AU2015 are forgoing their conference swag and instead donating to a partner nonprofit?

11% of registered attendees have chosen to donate to either Build Change (a nonprofit designing and building disaster-resistant buildings in emerging nations) or Proximity Designs (a nonprofit that designs user-centered products and services to improve the lives of people in Myanmar).

Pro tip: There are also volunteer opportunities on-site at AU. Sign up for the volunteer activity early—before it fills up. This year we’re working with e-NABLE, a global community of digital humanitarians who design, fabricate, mass-customize, and disseminate 3D-printed hands and arms for free to children born without limbs, or those who have lost a hand or arm due to illness or trauma. You’ll be helping assemble the 3D artificial limbs. Just an hour of your time can make a real difference in someone’s life.

Fun fact:

9.6% of registered attendees who are going to AU 2015 went to AU 2005 a decade ago.

September 23, 2015

AU is big on connections—great networking is a hallmark of the AU experience, and we love that. We also love that today’s design and engineering practices are deeply collaborative and increasingly connected. That’s true whether we’re talking BIM for construction or Connected Product Development. Beyond that, there’s the exciting reality of connected products—all those compelling consumer products that connect with other devices, collect and stream data, and so much more. You’re probably familiar with this idea as part the Internet of Things (IoT). Or let’s see, oh yes, maybe you’re not a stranger to the smartphone in your hand.

But here’s the thing. While smart, connected products sound futuristic and exciting, in truth many that are entering the market today are not all we’d hoped for. A connected toaster that begs you to use it may be fun, but it’s not going to end world hunger.

Are you a student with a great idea for a connected product or IoT device that you want to bring to life? Do you know a student who might have such an idea? Then you’ve come to the right place. The Connected Future Innovation Challenge is calling on the brightest young minds in design, innovation, and entrepreneurship to bring us your brilliant ideas. We’re asking you to use Autodesk products to design and pitch a new or improved connected or IoT product. Don't be shy now, hit us with your best shot. Fire away.

Here’s the really exciting part. A panel of startup and incubator professionals will select 4 finalists at the end of October. Each finalist will be mentored 1:1 by an expert in incubation and startup for the month of November to help refine their pitch before December. What happens in December? (Wait for it…) The 4 finalists will receive an Autodesk sponsored trip to AU Las Vegas! That’s right, if your idea is selected as a finalist we’ll fly you to Sin City where you’ll have the chance to pitch your idea to Autodesk corporate customers in the Live Autodesk University Pitch Session. (Does it get any more exciting than that?)

The winner will be selected and announced at AU Las Vegas and will receive a $5,000 USD cash prize, plus the chance to interview for an elite Autodesk paid internship for the summer of 2016. Talk about making connections—this is life-changing stuff.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get your entries in or help us spread the word. This is a fantastic opportunity for all students with a passion for design, invention, and innovation. The challenge is open to all U.S. students age 18-24, and entries must be received by October 30, 2015. So get cracking. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

September 16, 2015

From mass customization of products to 3D printing bridges and buildings to the Internet of Things, it’s no secret that the products we’re making (and using) are changing. That’s because the technologies we’re using to conceptualize, design, and manufacture products of all types are evolving. As they do, they’re coming together in exciting new ways and opening up some astounding possibilities. The future of making things lies in Connected Product Development.

In the past, product development involved separate, distinct processes, each carried out by different stakeholders, using different tools and technologies—concept, design, engineering, operation, and manufacturing. Bringing these processes together to create end products that met each stakeholder’s expectations and requirements involved long and often arduous development cycles.

But new smart tools (like, ahem, Autodesk software products) are connecting these processes, and changing the game. Connected Product Development means we can now integrate design and engineering, testing and validation, manufacturing and production, and sales and marketing. This connection feeds a faster, smoother, smarter iterative process from start to finish.

Connected Product Development gives us the ability to collaborate better, to be more flexible in every stage of development from design to manufacturing, and to connect both our designs and our products to the physical world around us.

The possibilities are staggering.

AU Las Vegas 2015 is the place to explore the idea of Connected Product Development, which is at the very heart of the future of making things. Check out the selection of courses below and sign up to get expert training on ways you can connect design, engineering, and fabrication to advance your product development process:

September 09, 2015

Attention AutoCAD users. Looking for that 1-stop shop for AutoCAD expertise? Head over to the new AU hub for on-demand AutoCAD classes and other resources. You’ll find everything you need to know about working with AutoCAD. We’ve made it easy for you to tap into the collected—and collective—knowledge of AutoCAD and industry experts around the world.

Check out featured classes for all levels, from beginner to advanced, with AutoCAD experts like Lynn Allen and David Cohn. Learn AutoCAD tips and tricks from top-rated minds like Matt Murphy and Kade King. Connect with even more great learning resources from AutoCAD users worldwide, including YouTube AutoCAD tutorials, the AU Workshop, and more. We’ve even scoured some of the evergreen greats from Line//Shape//Space.

Product and industry knowledge of this depth and breadth is the backbone of AU. It’s what makes AU the place you can come all year round to learn, connect, and explore what’s possible with AutoCAD. It’s also just 1 more way we’re working hard to make AU your go-to reference tool, wherever you are. Be sure to bookmark the AU AutoCAD page. You can also continue saving your favorite AutoCAD classes straight to your AU dashboard. Just look for the My AU tab for easy reference.

We hope you love the new AutoCAD page as much as we do. Let us know what you think—drop a comment here, give us a shout on your social channel of choice, or just send up the bat signal. Want to see more themed pages like this? What other products and practices are begging for the full AU treatment? We’d love to hear what you think.

September 02, 2015

Move over, Pinterest. For real inspiration and motivation, you need to head to the AU Online Gallery. Autodesk users around the world showcase both professional and personal projects in the gallery, like this beautiful parametric sculpture by Architect Karam Baki. Check out this cool vertical farm design—it may look like something from The Jetsons but it was actually dreamed up by Wallison Caetano in São Paulo. (Will we see you at AU Brazil this week, Sr. Caetano?) We love Areli Salvador’s stunning Museo Del Agua design. And we totally want to live (or at least bathe) in Architect Jagdip Singh’s take on the tallest residence in NYC—don't you? Thanks for sharing, all of you.

We’ve just added the gallery to Autodesk University, giving everyone at AU direct access to this growing community. We’re excited to get the AU community around the world involved, and to boost enthusiasm for what AU represents—learning, connecting, and exploring all year round. If you’re speaking at AU this year, it’s a great way to showcase your expertise and creativity, and get attendees excited about taking your classes in December. And AU attendees everywhere can join in the fun and start connecting before we take Las Vegas by storm in a few short months. (Don’t forget to register for AU 2015 by September 24 to save $500.)

Whatever ideas are floating around in your head, browsing the gallery will help you realize that you can bring them to life. (It’s what you do. Go do it.) It’s also a great way to find inspiration by seeing what others in your field are creating.

So go ahead and start sharing your work, ideas, and inspiration. If you’re using the gallery and will be attending AU this year, be sure to tag your new projects with “AU 2015”. We can’t wait to see what you’re working on.